The epic war film has been hailed a ‘must-see masterpiece’ (Image: LightRocket via Getty Images)
Considered by critics and audiences to be one of the greatest films ever made, especially within the war genre, a cult classic is all set to be broadcast on television tonight.
The film happens to be the very first Hollywood movie to be written and directed by a veteran of the Vietnam War and gives audiences a close and harrowing look at the brutal onground reality of war. Platoon will air tonight, September 27, on BBC Two at 10pm.
The 1986 epic war film has been written and directed by Oliver Stone — a veteran of the Vietnam War. Platoon is the first in a trilogy of Vietnam War films directed by Stone, with Born on the Fourth of July (1989) and Heaven & Earth (1993) following suit.
The war drama stars Charlie Sheen in the lead as Chris Taylor, alongside a brilliant and star-studded cast including Willem Dafoe, Tom Berenger, Johnny Depp, Kevin Dillon, Forest Whitaker, Francesco Quinn, John C McGinley, Richard Edson, Keith David, Reggie Johnson, Mark Moses, Chris Pedersen and Tony Todd.
The ‘visceral’ and ‘authentic’ war drama is airing on BBC Two tonight at 10pm (Image: Orion Pictures)
The film’s official plot states: “Chris Taylor leaves his university studies to enlist in combat duty in Vietnam in 1967. Once he’s on the ground in the middle of battle, his idealism fades. Infighting in his unit between Staff Sergeant Barnes, who believes nearby villagers are harboring Viet Cong soldiers, and Sergeant Elias, who has a more sympathetic view of the locals, ends up pitting the soldiers against each other as well as against the enemy.”
Platoon released in cinemas on December 19, 1986, and went on to become a box-office smash hit, grossing over $138million domestically in the US and Canada against a modest production budget of $6million. Filming of the movie took place on location in the Philippines in February 1986 and spanned 54 days.
Far from being purely a commercial success, Platoon was a hit with critics too, winning four out of the eight Academy Awards it was nominated for, including Best Picture, Best Director for Stone, Best Sound, and Best Film Editing.
With a 93% audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s safe to say Platoon has been loved and appreciated by many.
One fan of the film said: “Platoon is the best Vietnam War movie ever made. It captures the grittiness of the war through its characters, atmosphere, and narrative. The characters are flawed, which makes them all the more human, and the dialogue feels very natural. The film is like a time capsule from that era, especially in the authenticity of its details.
It’s widely recognised as the greatest war film ever made (Image: Orion Pictures)
“The combat scenes are disturbing and visceral, while the suspense keeps you on edge. It’s a powerful, immersive film that aptly portrays the chaos and brutality of war while never losing sight of the people caught in it. It’s a fantastic movie.”
While another audience review says: “A harrowing watch from beginning to end. Some scenes in this film will haunt me for life. It’s what I feel a realistic depiction of the horrors of war are.”
Yet another viewer said: “A masterful and emotionally charged war movie about the Vietnam War, Platoon brings many young actors’ careers into the light as well as several veteran actors. Platoon has made its way to the very top of the convoluted category of war movies with its storytelling and its revolutionary moral compass.”
One viewer wrote: “An outrageously great war film with top notch acting from everyone and offering fast pace and unique war elements.”
While one viewer posted on IMDB and said Platoon was better than Saving Private Ryan — considered to be one of the greatest war films of all time: “This is a great movie and possibly the greatest war movie of all time, yes maybe even better then Saving Private Ryan. If you like war movies then this is a must see.”
Critics have been left equally impressed, with one writing: “Oliver Stone’s harrowing war picture was the first movie that felt like a genuine depiction of that terrible war, and brought collective catharsis for America’s tragedy in Vietnam.”
Another reviewer said: “One of the most visceral and authentic war films ever made.”It’s a powerful, painful, must-see film — an impassioned and riveting dispatch from the front that’s at once a battle cry and a lamentation.”
While a third critic noted: “Platoon is so good, in fact, that it is not only one of the best war films ever made but also one of the best anti-war films as well.”
Platoon will air on BBC Two tonight, September 27, at 10pm.
